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News Bits: 8/27/10 Edition

T.O.P. and Lee Mi Sook in a photoshoot together?! And a sexy one at that – it blows my mind how young Lee Mi Sook looks – even though she’s fifty. And T.O.P. really pulls off the whole young boy-toy look with sincerity; the photo spread doesn’t look too jokey and too ridiculous.

Yoo Seung Ho will return to television in October. He will star in a weekend drama called A Woman Only Loves Once in a Lifetime with Shin Eun Kyung (White Lies, Bad Couple) and Seo Woo. The drama is about a son of a conglomerate family – and I’m guessing Yoo takes the title role?!

The press conference interviews for Playful Kiss finally came out – here are some snippets from the interview with Kim Hyun Joong, Jung So Min, and director Hwang In Roe, who also did Goong. Click here to read part one and part two.

Q: How do you feel about starring in “Naughty Kiss”?Jung So-min: I went into “Bad Boy” not knowing anything but this time, I’m trying to be careful, taking many things into consideration.Kim Hyun-joong: I’m working on improving on the aspects I lack in. I’m not trying to be acknowledged for my acting skills — I just want to make people feel that I’ve worked hard for the role. I think there have been a lot of dramas which are serious these days and none that are cheerful and sweet so I hope viewers will have fun watching it.

Q: The video clip revealed a few moments ago showed that the show has a very strong comic-like vibe to it.Hwang In Roe: It’s based on a comic so I tried to bring out the strengths that comics have. And this is about showing the process of how the love between a man and woman come true so I’m trying to express the emotions of young people. I’m focusing particularly hard on the rhythm. And for the parts where Oh Hani imagines things, I’m trying to make those seem more comic book-like. But there’s a limit to it as well because you don’t have much freedom in terms of frame usage so I’m trying to show it more through characters’ expressions.

Q: Kim Hyun-joong, you play the role of Baek Seung-jo who is a genius and good at everything. Don’t you feel any pressure in having to play such a role?Kim: He’s someone who is good not only at his studies but at sports too so I have to learn the proper posture even for when he’s running in a race. And since I’m supposed to be a genius, I have to be at ease when teaching Jung So-min her studies. So it’s very hard. (laugh) I’ve also been trying to pronounce my words outwardly when saying my lines because I think I mumbled when I did “Boys Over Flowers.”

Q: Is your character Oh Hani like you in any ways?Jung: My character Monet from “Bad Boy” was similar to me in a way and I think the same thing about this character as well. It’s as if I maximize on the aspects that exist within me to a certain extent.

Q: Which parts are you paying a lot of attention to in order to establish your character? What’s the difference between your character now and Yoon Ji-hoo from “Boys Over Flowers”?Kim: When I acted the role of Yoon Ji-hoo, I tried to become a tender person so I kept myself from even letting out sounds of my breath. But I think I could do a bit more yelling this time. (laugh) I think there’ll be scenes where I’ll ruin my image and I’m trying to show more of an aggressive disposition because I have to speak in a more rudely than Yoon Ji-hoo did. And I saw the clip that was shown earlier on — it seems like they’ve done a good job with the corrections. (laugh)

Q: Have you ever cringed playing the role of a genius who is good at everything? (laugh)Kim: During yesterday’s shoot, there was a scene where Oh Hani says to me, “You’re good at everything, running as well…” to which I’ll say, “Yes, I’m good at basketball and swimming as well.” But I felt a bit embarrassed doing this because I’m not a genius. (laugh)

Q: You’re being called the next generation Hallyu star. What are your plans regarding your activities in Japan?Kim: I honestly think there’s a bubble to being called that. When I go to Japan, I don’t go outside much so I don’t know if I’m popular and I don’t think I’ve been able to go to Asia much so far. I heard there are a few fans out there waiting for me (laugh) so no matter how small the number, I would like to go on tour in Asia after the drama ends.

Q: How far are you into the shoot? I hear there is going to be a scene where you show some skin when Baek Seung-jo and Oh Hani go to the beach. (laugh)Kim: We’ve only shot up till the fourth episode now so we haven’t done that scene yet. We’re leaving to the beach soon and I’ll do it if the director asks me too but Baek Seung-jo probably doesn’t need to show any skin, does he? (laugh)